Study: Tamarisk, Saltcedar, Russian Olive Removal May Not Save River Water

Study: Tamarisk, Saltcedar, Russian Olive Removal May Not Save River Water

The "vampire of Western watersheds" may be more bark than bite. New findings indicate tamarisk -- the poster child for weeds in the West -- is not as harmful to water supplies and wildlife as once believed.

Tamarisk, or saltcedar, is a native of Eurasia introduced to North America by nurseries and originally sold as an attractive, hardy ornamental. Lacking natural predators, the trees spread rampantly from front yards to river corridors and beyond.

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